To me, a "tradition of God" is something that draws us closer to Christ, or has scriptural basis. For example, iconography has its roots in the Old Testament.

A tradition of man can be a simple cultural exchange that doesn't really have a lot of dogmatic meaning to it.

For example, it is tradition amongst Ukrainians that when someone important comes to your home you greet them with bread and salt. Ukraine is known for her wheat (the yellow in the flag represents the wheat, the azure the sky) and bread and salt are sort of "here, you need this to live, so we give it to you while wearing ridiculous costumes!" (say it with Slavic accent and it becomes funny)

("Why must we wear such funny hats?!")

("Here is your last meal before you will be arrested for standing up for democracy!")

(Don't they know carbs are out?! Protein is in!)

Because of this tradition, whenever a Bishop visits a parish, the first thing that happens is they are greeted by the young girls in the parish in said ridiculous costumes with bread and salt.

Now, if we did not do this, would we go to hell? My Ukrainian Baba says yes, but her opinion is not relevant to this discussion.

I believe the Macedonians speak Bulgarian and so their liturgy would be in Church Slavonic

Macedonians speak <gasp> Macedonian.

Ethnic group X must speak language Y (due to refusing to recognize language X due to petty nationalistic squabble) and therefore their liturgy must be in language Z (which is neither X nor Y). Orthodox logic FTW!

This problem exists in many EO parishes as well. I have gotten to know a number of lifelong members (cradles) since converting, and many of them know almost nothing about the distinctive features of the faith. Words like Theosis elicit a blank stare, while an understanding of the differences between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism is almost non-existent. And these are not only people from the Old Country, but people born and raised in the Church here.

A lot of converts like myself converted to Orthodoxy after years of study, reading numerous books on Orthodox history and theology which convinced us of the truth of the Orthodox faith. It comes as a bit of a shock after joining a parish to discover that people born into the Church, and being active in a parish for decades, have little knowledge of terms like prelest, Orthopraxy, the Christological controversies of the early Church, the Orthodox view of the Atonement, and all the other subjects we discuss here on the forum.

Of course I am not questioning their commitment or personal piety, but it is still quite surprising to experience.

I know it was a bit jarring for me, the first time I attended coffee hour, to find that - in fact - not everyone present (indeed, almost no one) was talking about the usual subjects posted about on OC.net.

In public - more often than not. There is plenty of underaged drinking, but it is usually punished.

But the overriding concept of American law is this: Cop didn't see it, I didn't do it.

If this wasn't already in the Quotable quotes thread, I'd put it there.

Though I never willfully or knowingly tasted alcohol outside of mouthwash before I was 21 (though I'm pretty sure I had rum balls once, but I was never sure just what they were made of). I was raised Methodist, and they use grape juice for communion. I had my first alcoholic beverage in the Cheers bar in Boston, as I intended it.

« Last Edit: February 29, 2012, 06:26:03 PM by ironchapman »

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"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." --Bertrand Russell

Though I never willfully or knowingly tasted alcohol outside of mouthwash before I was 21 (though I'm pretty sure I had rum balls once, but I was never sure just what they were made of). I was raised Methodist, and they use grape juice for communion. I had my first alcoholic beverage in the Cheers bar in Boston, as I intended it.

Though I never willfully or knowingly tasted alcohol outside of mouthwash before I was 21 (though I'm pretty sure I had rum balls once, but I was never sure just what they were made of). I was raised Methodist, and they use grape juice for communion. I had my first alcoholic beverage in the Cheers bar in Boston, as I intended it.

Did everybody there know your name?

How I wish they did.

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"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." --Bertrand Russell

I've never drank, but pretty much every single other person my age I know has. All the parties have beer. So no, not really.

I just think it's funny. I first tasted alcohol when I was 13, the traditional age for danes(though many children below that age have tasted alcohol). There is no drinking age in Denmark so it's pretty foreign to us.

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Do not be cast down over the struggle - the Lord loves a brave warrior. The Lord loves the soul that is valiant.

Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.A hasty quarrel kindles fire,and urgent strife sheds blood.If you blow on a spark, it will glow;if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both come out of your mouth

Yuns guys are doing it wrong. World views are malleable, looks are not. Find someone you're attracted to, and then negotiate which religion/philosophy you can mutually agree to.

I prefer the method of swinging a 99 knot prayer rope back and forth in front of a girl's face like a hypnotist's watch, while whispering: "you are getting a phronema... you are getting a phronema... when I metanya three times, you will accept the dogmatic declaration of Nicea II!". If she backs away awkwardly, she's a goner. If she scowls and asks why I haven't moved on to 150 knots, I know she's a potential keeper.

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"Some have such command of their bowels, that they can break wind continuously at pleasure, so as to produce the effect of singing."- St. Augustine of Hippo